AT KHARTOUM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2522, 8 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

AT KHARTOUM.

The Imprisoned Europeans.

Terrible Sufferings.

Particulars respecting the imprisoned Europeans at Khartoum have been to some extent supplemented. Two messengers who arrived at Cairo nearly at the same time, brought small slips of paper from Slatin Buy, the Austrian missionary Urwalder, and the widow ol a former Egyptian official. These slips of paper were drafts 011 the Egyptian Government, and nil the Catholic Mission, for sums which the drawers had received from the messengers. The payment was made without hesitation, as the letters of Urwalder anil Slatin Bey were written in German and Italian, and the handwriting was known. From Urwalder's letter, as well as from verbal reports of the messengers, it has been ascertained that the position of

THE EUROPEAN'S IN KHARTOUM ia a very painful one. The missionaries and sisters of charity are comparatively well treated, for they are free and can earn their living by work. Lupton Bey lias to work in the arsenal like a common workman, and has to do the most menial and hardest work. Ho has been without clothes and shoes, naked with the exception of Arabian drawers aud a felt cap. Latoly his position has become somewhat better, as he is occupied in coining money. European and Egyptian money arc not current, the Mahdi having special coins stamped. Slatin Bey performs the office of running footman to the Madhi. Neufold lies in chains. Twice they have led him bound to the gallows, and then, either from sheer brutality or in order to g«t something out of him, have drawn him up and let him hang for some seconds They then cut him dawn with cries of derisive laughter and threats that this treatment would be often repeated, and took him back to prison. Klotz, once a Prussian corporal, and the servant of Baron Seckendorff, underwent the same treatment, and died about twelve months ago. The Greeks, Syrians, Copts, and Egyptians are in a forlorn and ragged condition, and have to do any kind of work. The people in Khartoum are in great misery from want of clothes, food and money. Added to this,

STRIFE AND DISCORD have broken out between the Mahdi's party and the followers of the other chiefs. A chief revolted, but surrendered again on seeing that the Mahdi's forces were more numerons and better armed than his. Peace was concluded, but a few days after he was captured and hanged. Hanging and murder are everyday occurences at Khartoum. Whoever smokes or sells tobacco, trades, does not give up his cash, or stores of corn, is hanged. Ransom money is of no use in the Soudan ; any one attempting to journey to Khartoum with money or wares, whether Christian or Moslem, friend or foe, is robbed of everything before reaching his destination by the tribes who have been beggared by THE MAHDI'S REIGN OF TERROR. It would be also completely useless to oven try to enter into negotiations for the release of the prisoners. Even if the Mahdi conscuted, the Councillors who surround liim would not. Attempts have been made to bring about the release of the captives, but mostly by private individuals. The Catholic mission has been especially active. They even endeavoured to obtain the meditation of the Sultan of Turkey and the Grand Sheriff of Mecca, but without success. It was found that the Mahdi, who considers himself to bo the true Prophet, and consequently ab:>ve the Sultan and Sheriff, would take no notice of them. Interference on their part would most likely lead to worse treatment of the prisoners. An expedition would still be more fatal to them, for it would not remain unknown to the men in power in Khartoum, Should the expedition be sucessful, and advance as far as Khartoum, THEY WOULD PROBABLY FALL VICTIMS. Owing to the fanaticism of the followers of the Mahdi they would not consent to release the prisoners, even to save themselves. A public discussion of the means to be taken for the release of the prisoners would not be advisable, as it would ccrtainly inlluence the Mahdi's actions. Ho is kept fully advised by spies of all that occurs in Cairo. It is of importance (says the Berlin correspondent of the Daily News) to the Egyptian, or rather the English Government, whose orders are of weight in Egypt, to free Statin Bey Luptou Bey, and the other innocent victims from their sad position ; it will be easy to come to an understanding with those who know the Soudan well as to ways and means. Lupton Bey is an Englishman, Neufeld a German, Slatin B«y an Austrian. The three missionaries and four nuns are Austrians and Italians. Several Greeks are also in Khartoum. Thus several states of Europe are represented among the prisoners of the Mahdi, and yet no hand is raised to release them.